THE WOLF OF WALL STREET is open to great reviews and is being called one of director Martin Scorsese's best films, but it is still failing to find traction with those who nominate and award the best films of the year. While we, the fans, may love getting a three hour Scorsese movie full of sex, drugs, and violence, but it seems some are not so keen on those characteristics.
There has been news surrounding a voting member of the Academy, a 75-year-old actress named Hope Holiday, who posted on her Facebook page regarding a confrontation with Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and screenwriter Terence Winter that ended with an anonymous person saying "shame on you" to the group. Holiday herself described the film as "three hours of torture — same disgusting [junk] over and over again". So, who is to be believed?
Anonymous members of the Academy who attended the screening seemed to have a much more positive take on the film with many standing and applauding at the end of the movie.
"The craft of the movie is remarkable," says another academy member in attendance. "People see that three-hour running time and groan, but it doesn't feel like three hours when you're watching it. And that's a tribute to Scorsese and DiCaprio."
While great movies will stand the test of time, regardless of trophies, it does show that this is yet another piece of proof that the Academy voters are older and may not be as willing to enjoy the modern sensibilities of current cinema including those of R-rated films. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET is certainly pushing the envelope of what a movie can show before getting an NC-17 rating, but does that make it any less worthy of winning any awards?
THE WOLF OF WALL STREET opens wide on Christmas Day amongst a crowd of other films. Scorsese's movie has yet to receive the same kind of awards considerations as other films have and that may hurt it come Oscar time. But, seeing as how few Martin Scorsese movies have actually won Best Picture, I don't think the man or his fans are at risk of missing anything.
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